DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 562 Original 2022 Regular Session Glover
Abstract: Establishes and provides for a redistricting commission to propose alternative
redistricting plans for each house of the legislature and for congress. Requires the legislature
to enact one of each such plans without amendment.
Proposed constitutional amendment provides for a redistricting commission as follows:
(1)Establishes a redistricting commission by April 1 of each year in which the federal decennial
census is taken to propose plans for redistricting each house of the legislature and for
congress. Provides for the commission to be composed of 15 qualified electors of the state
of whom four are elected by a two-thirds vote of the House of Representatives, four are
elected by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, three are appointed by the governor, and three are
appointed by the supreme court. For those selections, specifies that no appointing authority
may appoint more than two members affiliated with the same political party and requires in
the selection of commission members, due consideration to the demographics of the
population of the state, including but not limited to geography, gender, ethnicity, race, and
political party affiliation and requires selection of qualified persons to serve on the
commission in manner that reflects the demographics of the state to the fullest extent
practicable. Provides for one commission member to be elected by a two-thirds vote of the
other commission members who, if there is no other unaffiliated commission member, shall
be unaffiliated with any political party. Provides for filling vacancies in the manner of the
original selection within 20 days.
(2)Provides that no person shall be eligible or selected to serve on the commission who: holds
elected or appointed public or political party office; is a member of the immediate family of
a public official subject to redistricting by the commission; is a public employee; is an
employee of a public official subject to redistricting by the commission or of a legal entity
in which such public official has a business or financial interest; is a registered lobbyist; is
a member or an employee or any national, state, or local committee of a political party; takes
part in the management of the affairs of a political party, candidate, political committee, or
political campaign, including consulting or polling activity for a political party, candidate,
political committee, or political campaign; has changed party affiliation with the last three
years; or is a registered voter in any other state.
(3)Provides that commission members serve until redistricting of each body, as required, has
been completed after the decennial census and has become effective, at which time the
commission shall be dissolved until a new commission is established in the year of the next federal census. Prohibits a former commission member from becoming a candidate for
elective public office or a registered lobbyist in the state for a period of three years after
termination. Provides, however, if a new redistricting is required during the time between
decennial censuses, a new commission shall be established as provided in proposed law.
Specifies that each member shall receive the same per diem and travel allowance as provided
to legislators. Requires each commission member to take the oath of office and certify to
uphold certain standards prior to taking any action as a commission member.
(3)Requires all meetings to be public, requires at least one meeting in each congressional
district, and requires all communications to the commission or any member thereof about
redistricting to be placed into the official record of the commission.
(4)Requires the commission to submit three alternative plans for redistricting of each house to
the legislature at least three days prior to the final date for prefiling of legislation at the
regular session in the year following the year in which the population of the state is reported
to the president of the U.S. and for congress, at least three days prior to the final date for
prefiling of legislation at the regular session next preceding qualification of candidates for
election at the first election of members for congress after the release of decennial census
information at the precinct level.
(5)Requires that each plan shall redistrict the districts in accordance with the requirements of
the La. constitution and in accordance with federal law.
(6)Requires the legislature to enact one of the three plans for each body without amendment.
Requires the legislature to enact such legislative plans not later than the time as provided in
present constitution (Const. Art. III, §6; see below) relative to legislative redistricting and
congressional plans not later than the regular session next preceding qualification of
candidates for election at the first election for congress after the release of decennial census
information at the precinct level.
(7)Provides that if the commission fails to submit three plans for each required type or if the
legislature fails to enact one of those plans for each required, the La. Supreme Court, upon
petition of any elector, shall accomplish the redistricting as required.
(8)Requires adequate appropriations to and for the commission and prohibits gubernatorial veto
of such appropriations. Provides that the proposed constitutional amendment is self-
operative, but authorizes the legislature to provide by law relative to the redistricting
commission and procedures to implement the proposed constitutional amendment, including
but not limited to expenses and staffing for the commission, such law to be consistent with
the proposed constitutional amendment and the present constitution.
Present constitution (Const. Art. III, §6) provides for legislative reapportionment. Requires the
legislature to reapportion each house as equally as practicable on the basis of population shown by
the census not later than the end of the year following the year in which the state's population is
reported to the president of the U.S. for each decennial federal census. Proposed constitutional amendment changes the terminology in the present constitution to reflect
a change from "reapportion" and "reapportionment" to "redistrict" and "redistricting" and further
requires that such redistricting comply with the proposed constitutional amendment (summarized
above). Also retains present constitution that provides for "redistricting of the districts to elect
members" of the legislature by the supreme court upon petition of any elector if the legislature fails
to "redistrict" as required by the present constitution and proposed constitutional amendment. Also
retains present constitution that provides that procedure for review and for petition shall be provided
by law.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election to be held
Nov. 8, 2022.
(Amends Const. Art. III, §6; Adds Const. Art. XI, §6)